Woolley Center Learning Garden

The Woolley Center is an off-campus facility of Umpqua Community College that focuses on Adult Basic Skills Development and helps residents of Douglas County to earn their adult high school diploma or GED. The Woolley Center’s mission is to help youth and adults develop knowledge and life skills, and to get students on track to transition into college classes and careers. Woolley currently offers a range of adult high school diploma classes that cover all major subject areas. Classes are offered to students from all over Douglas County. Annually, the unduplicated headcount at the Woolley Center is 100-150 students. Approximately 50 students from the Woolley center graduate with a high school diploma every year.

The Woolley Center Learning Garden was established last year as a way to provide hands-on learning opportunities for the students.
Goals and Objectives:
- Provide hands-on learning opportunities for students.
- Create a demonstration and learning laboratory space for a horticulture curriculum.
- Create a stronger farm to school connection in Douglas County.
- Reduce food insecurity for our at-risk student population.
- Donate any surplus produce to local food pantries, including one for low-income UCC students.
- Educate the students on how to make healthy choices.
- Create environmental awareness among the students and the community.

The students at the Woolley Center benefit directly from the garden program through hands-on education opportunities and increased accessibility to healthy foods. They also make connections in the Douglas County area through business partners affiliated with the garden, volunteers and donations they provide for the community, which will help them develop relationships they can use after graduation.